Logically, Ana’s words made sense, but there was nothing logical about the swell of emotions roiling inside her at that moment.
Vlane's eyes went distant. “Zarek is raising the alarm. Jason is on his way.”
Jason appeared in the doorway, dressed in black from head to toe. Armand must have filled him in telepathically, because he moved right to Muriel and said, “Can you sense him?”
“Kind of,” Muriel answered. “I think he’s cloaking the bond, but I can still feel it. It’s very faint.” She closed her eyes and focused on that spot beneath her breastbone where Brandon’s magic usually sat. “He’s moving. It feels like… like the sun is rising on his right.”
“North and east,” Jason murmured. “How long ago?”
“Five minutes maybe?” Muriel's voice shook. “I ran here as soon as I felt it. It woke me up, then went dark.”
Jason's expression darkened. “They’re going to use him to get to you. They must have been watching longer than we thought.”
“Has the captured Collector provided any useful information?” Vlane asked.
“Not yet,” Jason said grimly. “He’s been buying time, knowing they were already close.”
Muriel's stomach dropped.
Jason pulled out his phone, fingers flying over the screen. “North and east... they’ll want someplace isolated and defendable but close enough for a quick exchange. There’s a cabin up that way, built right into the mountainside. That’s got to be their home base.”
“Good,” Muriel said, glad to have an objective. Standing around talking about it wasn’t doing Brandon any good. “Let’s go.”
“Not yet,” Jason said, his voice calm and strategic. “We do this smart. First, we confirm the location and that Brandon is there. We find out how many we’re dealing with and what kind of security they have.”
“That could take hours!” Muriel protested.
“It is better than rushing in blindly and getting everyone killed,” Vlane said flatly. “Including Brandon.”
“They won't kill him,” Jason said quietly.
Muriel's head snapped toward him. “How do you know?”
“Because Brandon is far too valuable to them alive,” Jason said, his dark eyes unreadable. “Trust me. They'll keep him breathing.”
Muriel wanted to argue, but she knew deep down they were right. Going in without knowing what they were facing was risky and reckless, even if every instinct screamed at her to moveright now.
“They must be suppressing his magic. Even half a dozen mercenaries would be no match for Brandon,” Jason said thoughtfully, and Muriel thought she heard a note of pride in his voice. “I have spells that can lock onto suppressed magical signatures, but only at a short range.”
“Small team for reconnaissance,” Vlane said. “Zarek leads the guard, Jason provides magical tracking and intelligence gathering?—”
“And me,” Muriel interrupted, lifting her chin. “What do I do?”
“Nothing. They came here looking for you and theCodex,” Vlane said. “We’re not going to hand them both on a silver platter.”
“I'm the only one who can track him through the cloaked bond,” she said firmly. “You need me.” Then more quietly, “Heneeds me.”
Vlane looked like he wanted to argue, but Armand spoke first. “She is right. The bond is our best tracking mechanism. And theCodexhas chosen her for this.”
Ana moved to Muriel’s side and put her arm around her. Looking at Vlane, she said, “She’s his mate, Vlane. And bringing him home safe is hermost heartfelt wish.”
A tense silence filled the room.
“Fine,” Vlane said finally. “But you stay with Zarek and do exactly as he says. It is imperative that the Collectors do not get their hands on you or that book. Do you understand?”
Muriel nodded.
“Once we have a location and intel, we call in Matt's pack,” Jason said.